Search intensifies for missing sisters
The Atlanta Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have issued an urgent AMBER Alert for two young sisters, 4-year-old Zola Cooper and 11-month-old Norah Cooper, who are believed to have been abducted by their babysitter. Authorities have classified the children as critically missing and in extreme danger, prompting a multi-agency search effort.
The children were last seen on Saturday evening around 6:00 p.m. in the vicinity of Jones Avenue Northwest and James P. Brawley Drive Northwest in Atlanta. Police identified the suspect as Lakesha Brown, who is believed to be operating a white 2009 Ford F350 pickup truck with Alabama license plate number 1C087Y4.
Suspect background and investigation
Atlanta police have confirmed that the suspect, Lakesha Brown, has a prior legal history involving kidnapping. Investigators have indicated that they believe the individual identified in this case is the same person who was arrested on kidnapping charges in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2021. The specific resolution of that prior case remains under investigation as authorities focus on the immediate safety of the Cooper sisters.
The Atlanta Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation and has requested that any member of the public with information regarding the whereabouts of the children or the suspect contact them immediately. Detective V. Rodriguez is serving as the primary point of contact for the unit.
Identification and safety details
Authorities have provided physical descriptions to assist in the public search. Zola Cooper is 3 feet 9 inches tall and weighs approximately 42 pounds; she was last seen wearing a multicolored dress. Norah Cooper is roughly 2 feet tall and weighs about 28 pounds; she was last seen wearing a pink onesie. Police noted that Norah is missing the index and middle fingers on her right hand, a specific physical detail that may assist in identification.
Officials are urging the public to avoid approaching the vehicle if spotted and instead contact local law enforcement or the Atlanta Police Department’s dedicated tip lines at 404-546-4260 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.